Practice patterns and perceptions about parenteral hydration in the last weeks of life: a survey of palliative care physicians in Latin America.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Parenteral hydration at the end of life is controversial and has generated considerable debate for decades.

Objectives

To identify palliative care physician parenteral hydration prescribing patterns and factors that influence prescribing levels (PLs) for patients during their last weeks of life.

Methods

A cross-sectional, representative online survey of Latin American palliative care physicians was conducted in 2010. Physicians were asked to report the percentage of their terminally ill patients for whom they prescribed parenteral hydration. Predictors of parenteral hydration PLs were identified using logistic regression analysis.

Results

Two hundred thirty-eight of 320 physicians completed the survey (74% response rate). Sixty percent of physicians rep

SUBMITTER: Torres-Vigil I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3217122 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature